Barron Witherspoon Named Assistant Track & Field Coach
8/21/2014 10:16:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
KENT, OHIO – Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Bill Lawson recently announced that former Kent State University Graduate Assistant (2012-13), Barron Witherspoon, has been named an assistant track and field coach on his staff.
Witherspoon, who will assist with the short/long sprints and hurdles, comes back to Kent State after spending the past year holding various positions as a camp counselor and coach at Kent State (2013) and Ohio State (2012) along with a position at ProCamps WorldWide as a marketing intern. Upon graduating in May 2013, Witherspoon took a role on the University of Cincinnati staff as Athletic Academic Coach.
"We are very pleased to have Barron join the Kent State Track and Field family. He was part of our staff two seasons ago as a graduate assistant and understands the dynamics of the program" head coach Lawson stated about Witherspoon. "as a stand out at Ohio State, he (Barron) understands camaraderie and the importance of team chemistry."
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Witherspoon was a two-year letter-winner on the men's track and field team at the Ohio State University for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Witherspoon ran the 60-meter hurdles, 110-meter hurdles and competed in the long jump.
During his time with the Buckeyes, Witherspoon set personal bests of 8.01 in the 60m hurdles, which is tied for fifth best in Ohio State All-Time Indoor Performers. His 110m hurdles time of 14.14, set at the Big Tem Conference Championships in 2011 when he took fifth in the race, is his a personal best. Witherspoon recorded his personal best jump of 6.87m (22' 6.5") for a fifth place finish at the 2012 Campbell Wright Open.
"Barron will add to the depth in coaching the sprint and hurdler event groups. Most importantly Barron has a desire to help Kent State's Track and Field continue success. Welcome aboard Coach Witherspoon!!!" Lawson ended with.
Witherspoon received his bachelor's degree in Strategic Communication from Ohio State in 2012, while he completed his master's degree in Sport and Recreation Management from Kent State in 2013.
![Four Kent State track and field athletes pose together on the awards podium wearing light blue Under Armour uniforms and gold MAC Championship medals. Left to right: Chaz Sakala (bib 1196), Sean [last name partially visible] (bib 1157, holding a relay baton), Ryan Gross (bib 1167), and Jacob Stanley (bib 1192). The group smiles for the camera following their relay event at the MAC Outdoor Championships.](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fkentstatesports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F5%2F21%2FIMG_2657.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
